October 25, 2025 • 8 mins
James McOnie from The Crowd Goes Wild joined Elliott Smith to discuss the NPC final and next weekend's upcoming All Blacks clash.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
As we do this time on a Sunday afternoon, we
welcome James mcconi into Weekend Sport Afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
James Afternoon. Elliot ET.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Great movie, great movie, absolutely named after Elliott from ET incidentally,
which I think I've told you before. In PC final yesterday,
how good was that?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Unbelievable? Wait a second, Wait a second, have you done
your full disclosure of where or from Elliott? Because yeah,
it was. It was a great occasion. Yea, where are
you from there? Right now?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I am from the Canterbury region that is the NPC
champions as of yesterday. There we go done.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yes, Yeah, it was nice and we witness the suffocation,
that's what it was. You know, Canterbury Sports and their
defense were impressive and actually a few times they throw
it through the ball wide at work, so you can
unfaulted really in terms of winning finals. That region know
exactly what they're doing and they stuck to their knitting. Really,
even though it was a sunny day, they assessed the
(01:16):
conditions and that wind. The Otago team should have made
more of it, but in the middle of the first half.
I think Otago had thirty phases and didn't go anywhere
and that was pivotal because they couldn't amassed enough points
with that win. And even Thomas Umunger Jetson, who gave
a beautiful interview at the end of the game to
Taylor Johnson on Sky where he's in tears but basically
(01:40):
giving that exact analysis, which is they were just shut
out of the game at a critical time.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
They weren't.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
I just love the occasion though, the noise from the
Otago fans that had made their way up. It was
four o'clock, the weather played ball apart from a little
bit of wind as well. It just made you love
the NPC and what it stands for.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, that it was just so nice, wasn't it just
seeing that festival atmosphere that I mean, look, let's talk
about it now, Larry the Lamb winning the mascot race.
There needs to be an investigation. Get Jeff Twovy on
it because he was a rapid and I have it
on good authority that he's actually a sprinter. I thought
it might be Tim Welton, you know, New Zealand's fastest man.
(02:21):
Underneath the Larry's mask, but it was it was a
sprinter who plays in the local under eighty five's competition.
So look this, we haven't hear the end of this,
and I'm hoping that new Stalks at be that you've
got your best journalists on this, because that was If
anyone saw that mascot race, he won it in.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
A cantor just another title for Canterbury. I've got Tony
small On, who's the Canterbury Rugby Union chief executive, so
I'll put that to him after two o'clock and see
if we can get to the bottom of that, because boy,
he showed some toe.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Maybe before we move on from rugby, I just wanted
to say Dylan Pledger, who is the young up and
coming halfback. I felt for him because he sort of
did all his core roles really well for Otago, but
he probably just didn't run en up and that is
it's a bit like having someone with that with the
acceleration of Reese Walsh and not seeing them really chance
their arm and it's tough for him, but one of
(03:16):
those games where he'll learn a lot from that, so
you know. And also shayfe Hackey, come on six ft
four runs like the wind kicks goals. He needs to
work out whether he wants to sit behind the All
Blacks or make himself available for Fiji or Tonga. Because
he has Test match.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Potential, he does it. I like the high potential in
the way that rugby's going at the moment in test rugby.
Speaking of All Blacks in Ireland in Chicago this time
next week or nine o'clock next week, what are you
expecting out of that? You've been to Chicago.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Before, Yes, so I'm expecting you and I will have
a beer, maybe go to comedy club or something Elliott.
But I also think that Ireland are hoping for an ambush,
but their plans have been thwarted somewhat. Big Lock Joe
McCarthy is out. Mack Hanson, the very versatile winger Australian
is out as well. Bundy RK and Robbie Henay sure
(04:06):
are doubtful. So this is the issue for them is
coming over sort of mid season really, So the All
Blacks are in a really good position and I think
the team that played in Perth should get a start.
Maybe Caleb Clark comes back for finding the nuku just
because of that, you know, the constant aerial threat of
Test rugby. But how are you feeling about that as well?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Elliott, I think you're right. I think I'd roll out
the same team again. I don't see too many reasons
to change necessarily the obviously two povi's gone for the
season to who's not there, so maybe there's a tweak
that needs to be made to the bench. Do you
look at a Dowry potentially off the bench or a
female to cover lock six? Will be interesting, but I
think what they struck on there, especially at midfield, is
(04:50):
what I'd go for for this tester. I like the
Barrett too pie A combination. I think it's worthy of
sticking with for a few more tests.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yes, I think so too. And look at the All Blacks.
The issue for them is that they haven't mastered the
art of taking the referee out of the game, so
that they they need to sort of I guess work
on that was a game management playing style. They've got
Jason Holland who's pretty much announced that he's leaving, so
where does that leave the players in terms of their
attack strategy? Does he still have control over that? So
(05:21):
there are a few intriguing points to look at. And
of course in Chicago in November it can be ice cold,
and what's called than being cool?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Elliott ice cold? To quote my man Andre three thousand
and finally, James International Rugby League, it has been hectic.
Tongasa'm ola today across the ditch is going to be
absolutely huge.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
From what I'm hearing out here in West Aukland, there
are utes flying around with the biggest tongue and flags
I've ever seen. And I'll send you a photo if
I can get close to them. It's already reached fever
pitch here. So I hope that Sun Corp is absolutely heaving.
The International Rugby League is alive and well, and you
can tell that league needs to keep on moving to
(06:05):
new territories. And look at rugby and rugby so lucky.
It's got Argentina and it's got France. He's just a
bit of variety, so Lee, really they need to go
and say, you've got Argentina, will take Brazil. You've got
We're going to Germany, You've got Japan, how about China.
It's time for that sport to expand because I love
International league proper tests and long.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Mate last absolutely and just finally in time for a
quick word. The NBA has shown both sides of it
this week, the good, the bad, and perhaps the ugly
as well.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Yeah, that's right. The match fixing is a real talking point.
And when they show some highlights low lights of Terry
Rosie just passing the ball away, I think he's going
to struggle to avoid jail time. Chauncey Billups, he's the
coach of my favorite team, the Portland Trailblazers. He was
always making some questionable calls. His main thing, though, is
(06:59):
that it's an illegal gambling sort of rigged poker matches
run by the mafia that he's been alluring in rich punters,
and so I mean, yeah, he's on massively thin ice.
But it does expose the fact that basketball is probably
one of the easier games to rig. Because I think
there's other players, Malik Beasley, these other names will probably
(07:21):
emerge in the media again and will be under the spotlight.
But on the highlight side, go and have a look
at Victor Wembin Yama Wemby. He's grown and then I
think he's seven foot three. Now he's seven foot four.
And you got nine blocks yesterday in a game, and
there's just an absolute freak. So there's some pretty cool
stuff happening on court as well.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Have you seen the movie The Sting James from the
nineteen seventies, Because the X ray glasses or the X
ray that they're using under the table the stink. They
just get someone fake drunk on gin and pretend they're
dunk while they're playing poker. That was what they did
back in the day.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
I know. Now there's all this technology and it's a bit.
It's pretty shameful stuff, isn't it like, And anyone who
cheats like that and any match fixing is just abhurrent
and especially if you've got if you're panting on it, Elliott,
it could be very frustrating. But they were and they
had a short term gain and now they're feeling the pain.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
They are indeed, James mcconey, appreciate your time and look
forward seeing you in Chicago next week.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Cheers, Elliott. I'll shout you, ber mate.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
I'll hold you to that. James mccony, thank you very
much for your time this afternoon, and I'm sure all
the touch based Piney from Chicago next weekend. Here on
News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
For more from weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
As we do this time on a Sunday afternoon, we
welcome James mcconi into Weekend Sport Afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
James Afternoon. Elliot ET.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Great movie, great movie, absolutely named after Elliott from ET incidentally,
which I think I've told you before. In PC final yesterday,
how good was that?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Unbelievable? Wait a second, Wait a second, have you done
your full disclosure of where or from Elliott? Because yeah,
it was. It was a great occasion. Yea, where are
you from there? Right now?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
I am from the Canterbury region that is the NPC
champions as of yesterday. There we go done.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yes, Yeah, it was nice and we witness the suffocation,
that's what it was. You know, Canterbury Sports and their
defense were impressive and actually a few times they throw
it through the ball wide at work, so you can
unfaulted really in terms of winning finals. That region know
exactly what they're doing and they stuck to their knitting. Really,
even though it was a sunny day, they assessed the
(01:16):
conditions and that wind. The Otago team should have made
more of it, but in the middle of the first half.
I think Otago had thirty phases and didn't go anywhere
and that was pivotal because they couldn't amassed enough points
with that win. And even Thomas Umunger Jetson, who gave
a beautiful interview at the end of the game to
Taylor Johnson on Sky where he's in tears but basically
(01:40):
giving that exact analysis, which is they were just shut
out of the game at a critical time.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
They weren't.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
I just love the occasion though, the noise from the
Otago fans that had made their way up. It was
four o'clock, the weather played ball apart from a little
bit of wind as well. It just made you love
the NPC and what it stands for.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, that it was just so nice, wasn't it just
seeing that festival atmosphere that I mean, look, let's talk
about it now, Larry the Lamb winning the mascot race.
There needs to be an investigation. Get Jeff Twovy on
it because he was a rapid and I have it
on good authority that he's actually a sprinter. I thought
it might be Tim Welton, you know, New Zealand's fastest man.
(02:21):
Underneath the Larry's mask, but it was it was a
sprinter who plays in the local under eighty five's competition.
So look this, we haven't hear the end of this,
and I'm hoping that new Stalks at be that you've
got your best journalists on this, because that was If
anyone saw that mascot race, he won it in.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
A cantor just another title for Canterbury. I've got Tony
small On, who's the Canterbury Rugby Union chief executive, so
I'll put that to him after two o'clock and see
if we can get to the bottom of that, because boy,
he showed some toe.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Maybe before we move on from rugby, I just wanted
to say Dylan Pledger, who is the young up and
coming halfback. I felt for him because he sort of
did all his core roles really well for Otago, but
he probably just didn't run en up and that is
it's a bit like having someone with that with the
acceleration of Reese Walsh and not seeing them really chance
their arm and it's tough for him, but one of
(03:16):
those games where he'll learn a lot from that, so
you know. And also shayfe Hackey, come on six ft
four runs like the wind kicks goals. He needs to
work out whether he wants to sit behind the All
Blacks or make himself available for Fiji or Tonga. Because
he has Test match.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Potential, he does it. I like the high potential in
the way that rugby's going at the moment in test rugby.
Speaking of All Blacks in Ireland in Chicago this time
next week or nine o'clock next week, what are you
expecting out of that? You've been to Chicago.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Before, Yes, so I'm expecting you and I will have
a beer, maybe go to comedy club or something Elliott.
But I also think that Ireland are hoping for an ambush,
but their plans have been thwarted somewhat. Big Lock Joe
McCarthy is out. Mack Hanson, the very versatile winger Australian
is out as well. Bundy RK and Robbie Henay sure
(04:06):
are doubtful. So this is the issue for them is
coming over sort of mid season really, So the All
Blacks are in a really good position and I think
the team that played in Perth should get a start.
Maybe Caleb Clark comes back for finding the nuku just
because of that, you know, the constant aerial threat of
Test rugby. But how are you feeling about that as well?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Elliott, I think you're right. I think I'd roll out
the same team again. I don't see too many reasons
to change necessarily the obviously two povi's gone for the
season to who's not there, so maybe there's a tweak
that needs to be made to the bench. Do you
look at a Dowry potentially off the bench or a
female to cover lock six? Will be interesting, but I
think what they struck on there, especially at midfield, is
(04:50):
what I'd go for for this tester. I like the
Barrett too pie A combination. I think it's worthy of
sticking with for a few more tests.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
Yes, I think so too. And look at the All Blacks.
The issue for them is that they haven't mastered the
art of taking the referee out of the game, so
that they they need to sort of I guess work
on that was a game management playing style. They've got
Jason Holland who's pretty much announced that he's leaving, so
where does that leave the players in terms of their
attack strategy? Does he still have control over that? So
(05:21):
there are a few intriguing points to look at. And
of course in Chicago in November it can be ice cold,
and what's called than being cool?
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Elliott ice cold? To quote my man Andre three thousand
and finally, James International Rugby League, it has been hectic.
Tongasa'm ola today across the ditch is going to be
absolutely huge.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
From what I'm hearing out here in West Aukland, there
are utes flying around with the biggest tongue and flags
I've ever seen. And I'll send you a photo if
I can get close to them. It's already reached fever
pitch here. So I hope that Sun Corp is absolutely heaving.
The International Rugby League is alive and well, and you
can tell that league needs to keep on moving to
(06:05):
new territories. And look at rugby and rugby so lucky.
It's got Argentina and it's got France. He's just a
bit of variety, so Lee, really they need to go
and say, you've got Argentina, will take Brazil. You've got
We're going to Germany, You've got Japan, how about China.
It's time for that sport to expand because I love
International league proper tests and long.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Mate last absolutely and just finally in time for a
quick word. The NBA has shown both sides of it
this week, the good, the bad, and perhaps the ugly
as well.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Yeah, that's right. The match fixing is a real talking point.
And when they show some highlights low lights of Terry
Rosie just passing the ball away, I think he's going
to struggle to avoid jail time. Chauncey Billups, he's the
coach of my favorite team, the Portland Trailblazers. He was
always making some questionable calls. His main thing, though, is
(06:59):
that it's an illegal gambling sort of rigged poker matches
run by the mafia that he's been alluring in rich punters,
and so I mean, yeah, he's on massively thin ice.
But it does expose the fact that basketball is probably
one of the easier games to rig. Because I think
there's other players, Malik Beasley, these other names will probably
(07:21):
emerge in the media again and will be under the spotlight.
But on the highlight side, go and have a look
at Victor Wembin Yama Wemby. He's grown and then I
think he's seven foot three. Now he's seven foot four.
And you got nine blocks yesterday in a game, and
there's just an absolute freak. So there's some pretty cool
stuff happening on court as well.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Have you seen the movie The Sting James from the
nineteen seventies, Because the X ray glasses or the X
ray that they're using under the table the stink. They
just get someone fake drunk on gin and pretend they're
dunk while they're playing poker. That was what they did
back in the day.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
I know. Now there's all this technology and it's a bit.
It's pretty shameful stuff, isn't it like, And anyone who
cheats like that and any match fixing is just abhurrent
and especially if you've got if you're panting on it, Elliott,
it could be very frustrating. But they were and they
had a short term gain and now they're feeling the pain.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
They are indeed, James mcconey, appreciate your time and look
forward seeing you in Chicago next week.
Speaker 3 (08:22):
Cheers, Elliott. I'll shout you, ber mate.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
I'll hold you to that. James mccony, thank you very
much for your time this afternoon, and I'm sure all
the touch based Piney from Chicago next weekend. Here on
News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
For more from weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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